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“Like it?” he asked, digging his thumbs into her foot.
She rested her forearms onto her thighs and kissed him on the lips. “Are you kidding me? This is paradise.”
He laughed. “Good – that was the aim.”
“Thank you for arranging this for me, Joe. I’m touched and honoured.”
“Hey, it’s my paradise too.” He cupped her chin with sandy fingers. “I’m going to marry you one day. When all this is over. That’s my dream. Us on an island. How does that sound?”
She laughed as ribbons of delight swirled through her. “I look forward to the proposal – I assume that wasn’t it!”
“Nah... It’ll be much more romantic than that. It makes me feel great to do nice things for you.” His tender expressed surged to devilish. “I especially love to hear you cry out my name in the throes of orgasm.”
She laughed. “I like that too.” She sat back and sighed, so he resumed massaging her feet with his sand-covered hands. “Joe, I need to tell you something. A confession.”
He stopped massaging. “Oh yeah?”
“Yeah. When we first started this… God, it was only this week, wasn’t it? But anyway… I was wracked with terrible thoughts of using you as my front page scoop. I’m so sorry. I never would’ve betrayed you I promise, but I just wanted you to know.”
He chuckled. “Hey, don’t worry. My mom always says that we can’t help what crazy thoughts arise in our minds. But it’s whether or not we act on them that makes us good people, right? I know you’d never betray me. I’m not stupid. I wouldn’t have opened up to you if I’d thought you might.”
“I’m glad you trusted me. I appreciated that – it really meant a lot.”
He crept his fingers up her calf and kissed her on the knee. “You know it’s not going to be easy for us, right? I can’t just walk down the street and go for a stroll.”
She ran her fingers through his lovely blond hair. “I know.”
“And they’ll hassle you too. The tabloids I mean. Even if we do see off The New York Spin, there’ll always be those sorts of papers.”
“I’ll cope. It’ll worth it to be with you. And at least I’ll know where you are.”
He laughed. “You don’t need to ever worry about reading anything sleazy about me in the papers, Ellie. I’m yours. One-hundred percent.”
An alarm started bleeping in the pocket of Joseph’s leathers. He pulled out his phone. “Shit, that’s our hour.”
“Already?”
He offered his hand to help her stand up. “I know. But I guess Sasha and Ashok will want their office back in the morning. And you’ve got a story to write. You’re an ambitious woman, and I fully intend to support your career, okay.”
She kissed him. “Thank you. And likewise.”
He wrapped her up in his strong arms. “And if you ever want to return to our private island, just say the word. Whatever you want from now on is yours.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Eleanor’s nerves about the confrontation with Robertson tonight weren’t able to take hold, because the entire day was packed full. Firstly, she went to a luxury costume store with Amy and Sarah to find an appropriate outfit for the event. Only someone as extravagant as Blair Robertson would throw himself a masked ball for his birthday, which meant everyone had to spend thousands of dollars on their costumes. She tried on a few dresses, and Sarah and Amy helped her choose the perfect one.
It was a bright-red strapless gown, made of floaty layers of chiffon, with a ‘sweetheart’ neckline – meaning that the top of the dress was reminiscent of the top of a love-heart, emphasising her ample bust, and flattering her waist in the middle. The cups were decorated with diamantes, and the skirt rested just above her knee. It made her feel sexy and sophisticated. She’d never worn such luxury, but Sarah and Amy had told her not to worry about the cost – they knew Joseph would want her to have whatever she desired.
Next was the pampering session. Eleanor had never really bothered with trips to the beauty salon, but the one Sarah and Amy used regularly was luxury. It was an exclusive place, where the best beauticians in the world flocked to, and it was currently being hired out completely by Eleanor and her two new friends for an afternoon pampering session. Eleanor was happy to relax and receive an all-over body massage, a foot scrub, pedicure, manicure, and facial mask. She still felt exhausted after last night’s writing session – as well as the sex and the trip to the beach – but she was feeling content and fulfilled – happy that everything was set up for tonight’s exposure of News Scape.
The three women chatted as they were pampered, and Eleanor filled them in on what had been happening since she’d last seen them.
“So is Matthew still in the storeroom?” Sarah asked, laughing.
Eleanor chuckled. She still couldn’t believe that Dylan’s cop friend had agreed to arrest Matthew for beating up Joseph – promising to keep him locked up safely in a cell until the morning, when he would be released without charge.
Sarah and Amy were so lovely – genuinely interested in Eleanor and her passion. She felt as if they were the sisters she’d always wanted.
